HEATHER WHISKY

Evening Star, Issue 16092, 18 April 1916, Page 10

HEATHER WHISKY

HOW A SECRET WAS DRAMATICALLY LOST.

The pending partial famine in whisky, owing to militaiy demands and other exigencies, has brought under consideration in some quarters the lost art of making what was once known as heather whisky. Higidand tradition has it that the liquor was concocted from the bloom of the heather, and that like healino and bloodstopping, the secret was confined to certain families. Ultimately a father and his son were the sole possessors of the secret, and declined to it. The laird,

who at that time had the power cf pit and gallows, sent for the two men, and threatened them with Haitian's fate if they did not there and then give him the complete recipe of liis favorite beverage. "Weel, laird," said the old man, "if yon hang my son first 1*3.1 tell ye the secret." No sooner was the request made than the ghastly deed was accomplished. "Now," said the laird, "out with the secret" "Ye see, laird," wh6 the reply of the old man. "I was just afraid my son would yield to the threat of death. Now you can do what you like : you'll never know the secret." The old man suffered the same fate as his son upon the same tree, and so passed for ever the secret of heather .whisky-making.